Protective Effects of Dietary Supplements Containing Probiotics, Micronutrients, and Plant Extracts Against Lead Toxicity in Mice

Abstract

Lead (Pb) intoxication is a serious food safety issue, and the development of relevant dietary strategies is an area of ongoing research. In this study, two different dietary supplements were designed and evaluated for their effects against Pb toxicity in mice. Dietary supplement A contained grape seed extract, tea polyphenols and Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8661, and dietary supplement B contained vitamin C, calcium carbonate, zinc acetate, and L. plantarum CCFM8661. The results showed that both dietary supplements could effectively decrease Pb levels, protect aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and recover glutathione, zinc protoporphyrin and malondialdehyde levels in tissues and blood of mice. A step-through passive avoidance task confirmed that the dietary supplements could recover the learning and memory capacities of Pb-exposed mice. The protective effects of both dietary supplements to alleviate oxidative stress and cognitive impairments were superior to the chelator treatment. Administration of the dietary supplements during Pb exposure offered more significant protection than administration after Pb exposure. Animal safety evaluation also indicated that these dietary supplements barely induced side effects in the mice. This study provides evidence that dietary supplements containing probiotics, micronutrients, and plant extracts can be considered a new dietary strategy against Pb toxicity.

Protective Effects of Dietary Antioxidants against Vanadium-Induced Toxicity: A Review

“…The administration of epigallocatechin gallate attenuated arsenic-induced oxidative damage in the liver of rats [9]. An inhibitory effect of dietary supplement containing a mixture of grape seed extract, tea polyphenols, and probiotics on toxicity of lead to mice has also been reported [10]. A human study with car battery workers found that garlic supplementation significantly reduced signs of occupational chronic lead poisoning such as irritability, headache, and mean systolic blood pressure [11].…”

Effects on the immune system of a three-month consumption of an extremely diverse probiotic yogurt: decrease of serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activity, detoxification and gut microbiota normalization

“…In December, after the three-month experience with the probiotic yogurt, preprovocative lead was again low risk at 0.7 ug/g creatinine, but post-provocation using a chelating agent, urine lead excretion significantly increased to 17 ug/g creatinine, which is 8.5 times the upper limit, considerably higher than in August and suggesting substantial elimination using both the probiotic yogurt and chelation. These results can be interpreted considering that probiotics, such as those present in the product consumed by the subject, are known to protect against lead toxicity (17) and may enhance lead elimination (18).…”

Effects on the Immune System of a Three-Month Consumption of an Extremely Diverse Probiotic Yogurt: Decrease of Serum Alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase Activity, Detoxification and Gut Microbiota Normalization

“…Post-provocative lead was high at 7.5 ug/g creatinine (reference range: < 2 ug/g creatinine), over three times the upper limit of the reference interval, suggesting the presence of substantial amounts of lead in the subject's body that chelation was helping remove. In December, after the three-month experience with the probiotic yogurt, preprovocative lead was again low risk at 0.7 ug/g creatinine, but post-provocation using a chelating agent, urine lead excretion significantly increased to 17 ug/g creatinine, which is 8.5 times the upper limit, considerably higher than in August and suggesting substantial elimination using both the probiotic yogurt and chelation, Fig 3. These results can be interpreted considering that probiotics, such as those present in the product consumed by the subject, are known to protect against lead toxicity (Zhai et al, 2018) and may enhance lead elimination (Yi et al, 2017).…”